Drier for footwear



Nov. 11, 1952 H. B. MANN DRIER FOR FOOTWEAR Filed Feb. 1, 1950 IN V EN TOR. /7or1/g/ 5 Mon/7. B

Patented Nov. 11, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 8 Claims.

This invention relates generally to apparatus for insertion in footwear for the purpose of ventilating the same to effect drying, the removal of odors, and to provide support to maintain the shape of the footwear.

The principal object which I have in view is the provision of a practical, inexpensive and effective device for expeditiously ventilating to dry wet footwear, more especially boots made of leather, rubber or other material without leaving the boots stiff and wrinkled. This invention permits the ventilation of footwear to dry the same at moderate temperatures without risk of injury to the material.

The rubber boots are usually lined with a textile such as canton flannel which readily absorbs moisture.

In the case of boots, the heat employed for ventilating them to deodorize or dry the same should not be excessive to avoid injury to the material of the boot, and thus it is dangerous to subject the boot to excessive temperatures.

Ventilating a boot to deodorize or dry the same is principally a question of circulating dry air within the boot, the water vapors given off by the boot fabric raising the humidity of the air until the latter becomes saturated and will cease to absorb moisture, so that the saturated air should be removed and replaced within the boot by dry air. In my improved device this is effected by progressively replacing the contaminated or saturated air by a clean dry air and thus maintaining a traveling current of air down one side of a transverse partition temporarily installed in the boot leg to the heel portion of the boot sole, thence along a horizontal partition within the foot portion of the boot to the toe of the latter, thence around the end of the foot partition and rearwardly along the other surface thereof to a second vertical passage up the leg of the boot along the other surface of the leg partition.

In my improved device the vertical partition plate provides two air passages in the leg of the boot and may be formed of any stiff material which preferably should not absorb moisture, such as plastic, aluminum or thin stainless steel plate material. This partition is removably inserted in the leg substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the foot of the boot, thus dividing the leg into vertical passages. A foot plate may be hingedly attached to the lower end of the leg plate. The lower end of this leg plate is provided with means for maintaining the lower extremity of the partition preferably spaced at about one and one-half or two inches above the inner sole of the boot so that the current of air may flow forwardly under the foot plate which extends forwardly within the foot of the boot but stops short of the toe of the latter, preferably about one or two inches. The free extremity of the toe plate is elevated above the boot sole preferably about three-fourths of an inch so that the current of air may flow under the foot plate and up around the extremity of the same and over the top surface of the foot plate to enter and move upwardly through the front passage in the boot leg to atmosphere. The foot plate may be made of like material to that of the leg plate.

To stimulate the travel of the air through the passages thus provided, heat may be employed. Thus if the toe of the boot in which my invention is installed is placed slightly overlapping a warm air floor register with the remainder of the sole and the heel out of contact with flow of heat from the register, the air will be warmed and flow upwardly in the boot leg along the front of the leg partition, thus maintaining a current of air flowing downwardly at the rear of said partition. The same effect may be obtained by use of radiant heat or by placing the boot with its front adjacent a wall hot air register or a fire place, or with its front directly exposed to sunshine. Again, a small. electrical heating line may be attached to one side of the leg and toe partition plates and supplied with current to heat the air on one side of the partition.

To' direct the hinged foot plate toward the horizontal foot of the boot as the device is being inserted therein, its pivotal attachment is such that when the dryer is not installed the foot plate is suspended at a downward and forward:

angle relative to the leg plate, and the spacing projection at the free end of the footplate is rounded so that it acts as a guide to direct the latter into proper position in the toe of the boot. The toe plate may be swung up against the leg plate so that the device may be conveniently packed when not in use.

Instead of applying heat to stimulate the travel of a current of air within the boot, or as an auxiliary to such application, I may provide other means to maintain such current. For instance I may use a baflle temporarily mounted on the top of the boot or a pair of boots placed side-byside and direct against such baflle a current of dry atmospheric air from a source, such as a fan, the bafile being so positioned as to direct the air down the front side of the leg partition or partitions. Thus the .dry air will move through the connected passages in the legend foot portions of the boots and emerge from the tops of the latter ladened with moisture from the interior of the boots.

Again, air may be blown directly down either the front or rear side of the leg partition, circulating positively through the passages provided by the dryer and resulting in rapid drying of all parts of the boot interior.

Other objects and advantages appear in the following description and claims.

The accompanying drawing shows, for the purpose of exempliflcation without limiting the invention or claims thereto, certain practical embodiments of the invention wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the ventilating device comprising this invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of the device installed in a boot Fig. 3 is a plan view of the device when folded;

Fig. 4 is a view in side elevation showing the toe plate extended for insertion into footwear;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view showing a pair of boots with an additional bafile plate;

Fig. 6 is a view in front elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 5 with parts broken away; and

Fig. 7 is a view in side elevation of a modified form of the ventilating device of this invention.

Fig. 8 is a view in side elevation of a modified form of the ventilating device with the leg and toe plate lying in substantially the same vertical plane.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, of the drawings, my improved device is composed of two main elements, the leg plate I and the foot plate II, the latter being hinged to the former at an elevation somewhat above the lower extremity of the leg plate. The width of the leg plate lessens progressively downwardly so that while the upper portion of the leg plate is sufficiently wide to hold the leg of the boot open and forms a transversely disposed division wall dividing the interior of the boot leg into the front and rear vertical air passages I2 and I3 as shown in Fig. 2, the lower portion of the leg plate is of the proper width to extend down through the ankle portion of the boot leg without jamming.

The foot plate and the leg plate are formed of a stiff plate material which will not absorb moisture, such for instance as aluminum or stainless steel plate material. Preferably the surfaces of such materials are polished so that heat will be radiated therefrom and thus stimulate the drying action as warm air circulates within the boot.

The foot plate is pivotally attached at its rear end to the leg plate at substantially one and onehalf inches to two inches above the lower end of the latter, and the lower portion I4 of the plate, which supports the device above the sole of the boot, may be open to the bottom or may be provided with a port I as shown for the free passage. of air forwardly through the foot of the boot below the foot plate.

The material 'of the leg plate is cut and pressed outwardly at either side of the top portion of the port 'I 5 to form the hinge loops IS.

The rear edge of the foot-plate is provided with a central rearwardly extending tongue I! which is of proper width to extend rearwardly through the top of the port I5 in the leg plate, and said tongue at a point near its base is also in like manner provided with hinge loops I8 which register with the hinge loops I 6. A hinge pintle I9 extends through the registering loops to complete the hinge attachment. The rearwardly extending tongue I! is curved upwardly as at 20 to form a stop, which when the dryer is extended, as shown in Fig. 4, preparatory to inserting the latter into the boot into the position illustrated in Fig. 2, the foot plate is suspended at a downwardly and forwardly extended angle, and thus it will not lodge against the sole of the boot but will swing and move forwardly into operative position in the foot of the boot.

The free end of the foot plate is provided on its under surface with a depending loop or projection 2| which, when the dryer is installed in the boot, will hold the front end of the foot plate atthe proper elevation to provide the necessary air passage under the foot plate. This projection is provided with a rounded under surface which slides along over the sole of the boot as the dryer is inserted into position. The projection 2| may extend forwardly beyond the free end of the foot plate to space the latter from the toe of the boot and thus permit the current of air to pass up around the free end of the foot plate.

Preferably the front end of the foot plate is supported at about three-fourths of an inch above the sole of the boot, thus providing for a free passage of the current of air forwardly under the foot plate, up around the front end of the latter and rearwardly above the foot plate to the lower end of the front passage I2 in the leg of the boot through which the current passes upwardly out of the boot leg.

To provide heat to warm the air in the foot of the boot and thus establish and maintain a current of dry air through the boot, I may employ an electrical heating element such as a resistance element or wire 22 which is preferably attached to the front surface of the leg and foot plates I0 and I I adjacent the front end thereof so that the Whole passage will have heated air that travels upwards through the passage I2 in the leg, and thus drawing in fresh dry air down through the rear passage I3 in the leg. Thus the loop heating element may extend to the loop which formsspacing projection 2|. Current may be supplied to the heating element as by means of the plug 23 which is arranged to be connected to a source of electric current, such as a wall or floor connector socket. By having heat all along the passage I2 moisture taken up from the toe will not condense in the leg.

Another method by which my improved dryer may be employed by the use of dry atmospheric air is illustrated by Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings, wherein a baffle 25 made of any convenient sheet material, such as cardboard, is mounted on a pair of boots 26 and 21, in which my dryers have been installed in vertical alignment with the leg partitions, and a substantial current of dry air is directed against the baffle, as by a fan, not shown, causing a current of 'dry air to be deflected by the baflie and caused to pass downwardly in front of the leg plate I!) through the passage I2 and around the free end of the foot plate II and up and out of the boot through the passage I3. To enable the baffle 25 to be mounted in position, the lower edge of it is slotted upwardly as shown at 28 so that it may be slipped down over the top of the boot legs. To prevent lateral dispersion by the baffle of the currents of air directed against it by the fan or other source, side portions 29 may be bent forwardly as shown and be held against recession by the cord 38.

For any method of blowing air into the boots for ventilation and drying the partitions of this invention provide passages for positive circulation without eddy currents which otherwise would greatly reduce the air flow and rate of drying.

In Fig. 7 the leg plate 10 is provide-d with a foot plate in the form of a rigid bafile 3| in place of the hinged foot plate II. The baffle extends outwardly toward the toe of the boot and is as long as permissible to allow insertion with the plate 10 into the boot. The bafile will direct a strong current of air to the extremity of the boot toe but is not as effective as the longer hinged foot plate.

Referring to Fig. 8 of the drawings, my improved device is composed of two main elements, the leg plate 32 and the foot plate 33, the latter being hinged to the lower end of th former by the hinge pin 34. The leg plate and the foot plate lie in substantially the same vertical plane and divide the footwear into two passages, one on each side of the vertical plane in which the leg and toe plate lie. A stop 35 is in the form of a tongue on the toe plate 33 which is bent around the rounded heel section of the leg plate 32. This stop strikes the bare edge of the leg plate 32 and prevents the toe plate from extending straight down when the device is held free. When this divider is inserted into a boot the angular disposition of the toe plate guides it into the toe of the boot. The toe plate is shorter than the ordinary to of the selected size of footwear on which the device is to be used to provide ample space around the end of the toe plate for the circulation of air. The leg plate substantially fits the contour of the boot leg and the toe plate will stay in the center as it seeks the path of least resistance when being inserted and it arches the flexible instep and toe section of the footwear.

The pair of boots in this case may be placed back to back to receive the bafile as shown in Fig. 6.

The toe section 33 may be swung in a clockwise direction to fold over the leg portion for shipment or storing.

While, for clarity of explanation, certain preferred embodiments of this invention have been shown and described, it is to be understood that this invention is capable of many modifications, and changes in the construction and arrangement may be made therein and certain parts may be employed without conjoint use of other parts and without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. A ventilating device for footwear comprising a fiat leg plate of proper contour to approximate the shape of the leg of footwear when inserted therein, and a flat foot plate of proper contour to approximate the shape of the fore part of the foot and angularly joined to the lower portion of the leg plate and extending to project into the toe of the footwear, said plates terminating within the dimension of each other and defining a partition that extends from the top to adjacent the toe of the footwear closing one side of the partition from the other and dividing the interior of the footwear into a free continuous passage down along one side of the partition past the heel to the toe and back up along the opposite side of said partition.

2. The structure of claim 1 characterized in that said toe plate is secured rigid to the front of said leg plate.

3. The structure of claim 1 characterized in that said toe plate is hingedly attached transversely to the front of the leg plate.

4. The structure of claim 3 which also includes a tongue means on the foot plate adjacent the hinge toengage the leg plate and limit the obtuse angle between said plates when hanging freely and for aiding insertion into footwear.

5. The structure of claim 1 characterized in that said leg plate and said toe plate lie substantially in the same plane and are pivotally connected to each other.

6. The structure of claim 1 which also includes a projection on the bottom of the leg plate to insure its open spacing from the heel of the footwear.

7. The structure of claim 1 which also includes a projection on the free end of said toe plate to engage the footwear and insure open spacing of the foot plate from the toe of the footwear.

8. The structure of claim 1 which also includes a baiile means having a fiat section to mate with the upper end of the leg plate to direct air down into the footwear HARVEY B. MANN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 425,796 Howard Apr. 15, 1890 1,543,828 Doyle June 30, 1925 2,018,406 Legge Oct. 22, 1935 2,076,735 Leindorf Apr. 13, 1937 2,098,735 Yentis Nov. 9, 1937 

